A Dangerous Privilege

When you are given the privilege to get behind the wheel you are given the privilege to explore the world. On November 16^th 2022, my close friend’s dad was hit by a distracted driver coming back home from hunting. Later that evening the police found him unresponsive and was sent to the hospital to be put on life support. Only 10 days later, on November 26^th, early that morning he died. Just because of one text, one drink, one distraction, my friend and their family’s lives changed forever. A study done in July 2022 by the Association for Safe International Road Travel concluded that 1.35 million people die from car crashes each year, which reveals that about 3,700 people die from car crashes nationally each day. When you commit yourself to a driver’s license you are putting forth not only your safety but also everyone else’s safety around you at risk, so it is important that you study the laws of the road and know how to prevent yourself along with others from fatality.

Though many people complain about the long course of driver’s education, it is essential for one to understand the importance of safety laws, signs, road markings, etc. In most states, you are only required to enroll in drivers ed if you are under a certain age and when over, the decision is up to you. Yes, the process of these classes are extent along with months of driving practice. But it is not worth another life because of one’s lack of knowledge on the rules of the road. Young drivers are the cause of 12% of all fatal car crashes. As a new or experience driver, you can take just a few simple steps to help reduce deaths from driving. Always be aware of your surroundings, look twice before you go, and think before you do. Knowing what is going on around you and checking your mirrors are a huge safety major while driving. Especially when changing lanes, checking if law or medical vehicles are coming your way, and to ensure the area around you is safe. Though checking your mirrors are essential you shouldn’t drive through them. Meaning don’t let other reckless or aggravated drivers influence your actions such as speeding up or “brake checking”. This is also why it is important to check twice before moving at a light, 4 way stop, rail roads, etc. Even though you are given the right of way, you never know if someone will speed through because they are too careless to think about others. Peer pressure is common especially as a teen. When driving with others; don’t let anyone control the wheel for you. Maybe the light turned yellow with only a few seconds to spare, and your friend says to go, or your sibling tells you to take a turn last minute. Do not let others tell you how to drive, it is always best to put safety first. It is no mystery that it takes time and patience to get a feel for how driving works, when learning how to handle the wheel relax, take a breath, and as my driving instructor always told me, let the car do the driving.

When driving keep in mind that many people around you can be in a hurry, under the influence, or distracted. If you see something, say something. As I mentioned earlier never drive in your rear-view mirror, and do not drive recklessly out of anger because of other drivers. You should simply pull over and let any antsy drivers pass by. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration states that 66% of car fatalities occur from aggressive driving. A personal experience I had this past summer really opened my eyes to the dangers of driving. I was going out for a girl’s day with my family to celebrate my grandma’s birthday. We were only on the highway for a few minutes when we realized what was going on around us. A group of about four cars were racing after each other weaving in and out of traffic eventually pulling over on the side of the road exchanging words just to race after each other on the road again. Luckily, we escaped the mess by taking the nearest exit, we never found out if anyone was injured. But it made me realize how fast your life can be taken from you and how the actions of others on the road can play a huge part in your safety.

Due to my eye-opening experience on the highway, I feel that it is only right that I take a few important steps to be a better and safer driver. I refuse to cause possible life-threatening emergencies because I made reckless actions such as speeding through a yellow light last minute, or drive under the influence because I was selfish and didn’t want to risk getting in trouble by my parents, or something as small as responding to a text, eating, or being distracted just as that one driver who influenced the death of my friend’s dad. I will not put anyone’s life at risk because I was too careless. What will you do?